Hasan Ali's wife obstructing probe, ED tells HC

Mumbai: Alleging that Hasan Ali Khan's wife was 'obstructing' the probe and trying to 'intimidate' investigators, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday urged the Bombay High Court to reject her petition seeking quashing of proceedings under the anti-money laundering law.

The ED also said the preliminary enquiry initiated against Rheema Khan, the wife of jailed Pune stud farm owner accused in money laundering cases, has revealed that she too had acquired properties worth Rs 16 crore through dubious cash transactions.

"The petitioner (Rheema) has been causing obstructions in investigations and is attempting to intimidate ED officers who are probing the case," the ED said in an affidavit filed on Tuesday before a division bench of justices AM Khanwilkar and PD Kode.

ED said the enquiry initiated against Rheema revealed that she too had acquired properties worth Rs 16 crore.

The court was hearing a petition filed by Rheema seeking to quash the proceedings initiated against her by a special court under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The proceedings were initiated after the ED approached the court with a complaint following Rheema's failure to appear before the agency to record her statement.

"As of now, the agency is only conducting a preliminary inquiry which has revealed that Hasan Ali Khan and the petitioner (Rheema) have acquired properties valued at Rs 16.32 crore through dubious cash transactions and without known source of income," the ED said.

Claiming that Rheema's petition to quash the proceedings initiated against her is premature, ED said only after completion of the preliminary enquiry the agency would decide on whether a case should be registered or not.